Vangerdhast, Royal Magician of Cormyr

Armor Class 17 Bracers of Defense, Ring of Protection+3

Hit Points 60 (15d6)

Speed 30 ft.

STR

12 (+1)

DEX

14 (+2)

CON

16 (+3)

INT

18 (+4)

WIS

16 (+3)

CHA

12 (+1)

Saving Throws INT +9, WIS +8

Skills +9, +9, +9

Senses Passive Perception 13

Languages Common, Dwarvish, Elvish, Halfling

Challenge 15 (13,000 XP)

Proficiency Bonus +5

Traits

Spellcasting. Vangerdhast can cast prepared wizard spells using Intelligence as his spellcasting modifier (Spell DC , Spell Attack ) and wizard spells in his spellbook as rituals if they have the ritual tag. He can use an arcane focus as a spellcasting focus and has the following spells prepared:

Cantrips (at will): , , , ,

1st-level (4 slots): , , ,

2nd-level (3 slots): , ,

3rd-level (3 slots): , , ,

4th-level (3 slots):

5th-level (2 slots): , ,

6th-level (1 slot): ,

7th-level (1 slot): ,

8th-level (1 slot):

Magic Items. Ring of Protection+3, Bracers of Defence, Wand of Magic Missiles (7 charges, ). He wears a Robe of Useful Items from which he can produce spell components, spellbooks, a stand for his familiar, or a lot of other things. When at court he also wears a Ring of Three Wishes which has an unknown number of wishes left.

Familiar. A raven-like creature called Myrcrest that acts as a messenger on his behalf. (Uses stats though INT is 10 and can talk Common.)

Durable Magic. While Vangerdhast maintains concentration on a spell, he has a +2 bonus to AC and all saving throws.

Arcane Recovery: (Special). Once per day when he finishes a short rest, Vandeghast can choose expended spell slots to recover - up to a combined level of , and none of the slots can be 6th level or higher.

Inspiring Leader: (10 Minutes). Vangerdhast can spend 10 minutes inspiring his companions. Choose up to 6 allies (including himself) that can see or hear and can understand him within 30 ft. Each creature gains temp HP once per short rest.

Power Surge: (Special). Vangerdhast can store magical power surges within himself up to a maximum of . Whenever he finishes a long rest, his number of power surges resets to one. Whenever he successfully ends a spell with dispel magic or counterspell, he gains one power surge. If he ends a short rest with no power surges, he gains one power surge. Once per turn when he deals damage to a creature or object with a wizard spell, he can spend one power surge to deal an extra force damage.

Actions

Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., range one target. Hit: 3(1d4+2) piercing damage, simple, finesse, light, thrown, range.

Staff. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit(1h): 4(1d6+1) bludgeoning damage or Hit(2h): 5(1d8+1) bludgeoning damage, simple, versatile, (can also function as spell focus).

Unarmed Strike. Melee Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 2 bludgeoning damage.

Deflecting Shroud: (Special). When he uses his Arcane Deflection feature, Vangerdhast can cause magical energy to arc from him. Up to three creatures of your choice that you can see within 60 ft. of you each take 7 force damage.

Reactions

Opportunity Attack. Vangerdhast can make an opportunity attack when a hostile creature that he can see moves out of his reach. To make the opportunity attack, he uses his reaction to make one melee attack against the provoking creature. The attack occurs right before the creature leaves his reach.

Arcane Deflection. When he is hit by an attack or he fails a saving throw, Vangerdhast can use his reaction to gain a +2 bonus to his AC against that attack or a +4 bonus to that saving throw. When he uses this feature, he can’t cast spells other than cantrips until the end of his next turn.

War Caster. Vangerdhast can use his reaction to make an opportunity attack to cast a spell that has a casting time of 1 action and targets only that creature.

Description

(This is Vangerdhast as he appears as an NPC in the adventure module FRC-2 Curse of the Azure Bonds. So the time-period in the realms is about the later part of the Year of the Prince, 1357 DR. These stats are based on old 1e/2e data updated to current 5e standards.)

Characteristics

Alignment Lawful Neutral Gender Male Eyes Blue Size Medium Height 5 ft 7ins Faith Mystra

Hair White Skin Fair Age 132 Weight 218lb.

Personality Traits. I’ve read every book in the world’s greatest libraries—or I like to boast that I have.

Ideals. Knowledge. The path to power and self-improvement is through knowledge. (Neutral)

Bonds. I work to preserve the Kingdom of Cormyr.

Flaws. I often choose the easier course or best short-term solution for a problem as opposed to the long view.

Motivations/Goals:

Vangerdahast is admired and respected for his lifelong devotion to Cormyr and his friend, King Azoun. He feels that Azoun is by far the best possible ruler for Cormyr, and he works diligently to maintain Azoun's rule. Unlike Azoun, though, Vangerdahast often tends to take the most expeditious route to achieve his ends, rather than the "straight and narrow" path of lawful good. However, Vangerdahast is concerned for the welfare of all who live in Cormyr, and he realizes that repression and arbitrariness are the best ways to ensure that the people will start searching for a less harsh ruler.

Vangerdahast’s story:

Vangerdahast Aeiulvana is the Royal Magician of Cormyr, Court Wizard of the Purple Dragon, and Chief Sorcerer of Suzail’s Council of Mages. Stern but kindly, the white-haired Vangerdahast is the advisor, former tutor, and longtime friend of King Azoun IV, ruler of Cormyr.
Vangerdahast is of an indeterminate age. Very few, if any, people remember him when he was young. For his last 30 years in Cormyr, he has appeared as he does today: white-haired, a tad overweight, with a careworn face and concerned blue eyes. Vangerdahast tutored Azoun as a youth, and the old mage and young hot-blooded prince soon became fast friends. When Azoun ascended to the throne, “Vangy” became his chief advisor in state affairs. Vangerdahast is no sage or visionary and often chooses the easier course or best short-term solution for a problem instead of the long view.

At some point in his career, Vangerdahast crossed paths with Elminster. Although the details are not known except by the principals, a good-natured feud arose between the two mages that continues to the present.

His loyalty and fierce devotion to king and country are unquestioned, and where you find Azoun, his “pet wizard” will not be far behind.

Campaign Uses:

As usual, this version of Vangerdhast is intended for use in a 5e updated Curse of the Azure Bonds Campaign. The Ring of Three Wishes still has two uses left, a fact only known to Vanderghast.

If the PCs spend any amount of time in Cormyr around the 1350s or `60s DR, at least the magic-using characters are sure to encounter Vangerdahast or his subordinates. Any sort of public magical disturbance will certainly draw his attention. Vangerdahast also may contact adventurers of a non-lawful persuasion to achieve some important objective for the good of Cormyr. Most likely, this would occur if the king is stuck on the horns of an ethical dilemma and Vangerdahast is seeking to solve the problem for the king by employing the PCs. Vangerdahast is not a Harper, but he is a trusted ally of the group and will lend his help to a Harper cause when he can.

For other time periods, well, he was born in 1224 DR and after years as an adventuring mage, he was appointed as Prince Azoun`s tutor and became Royal Magician when Azoun became king in the Year of the Highmantle,1336 DR. In the Year of Wild Magic,1372 DR, shortly after the death of Azoun in battle, he decided to retire, appointing the battle sorceress, Caladnei as his successor. He retreated to a hidden sanctum and over the next few years, he devoted himself to the study of arcane lore so that he could devise a new ultimate defense for the Kingdom of Cormyr.

Eventually, sometime after 1373 DR, his work came to the notice of a group of dragons who saw his research as a threat and also a small army of Thayan Red Wizards intent on gaining more power. Just to confuse things further an anti-monarchist revolution broke out in Cormyr probably backed by the Thayans. The Dragons soon dealt with the Red Wizards and, after confronting Vangerdhast (Elminster was involved) he was persuaded to take the dragon Ammaratha Cyndusk as a consort, he would also become a dragon through the goddess Mystra`s power, and the two of them would become the guardians of Cormyr, sleeping until needed.

In the Year of the Ageless One,1479 DR, his spirit was sighted as a wraith in the royal palace, and in the Year of the Rune Lords Triumphant,1487 DR he was returned to human form by Mystra after her return, Ammaratha seems to have died that year in a battle with the Shadowvar. So, by the current 1490s DR setting, he seems to be back in Cormyr, probably doing his old job for the current queen Raedra Obarskyr!

Sources:

Novels: Azure Bonds, Crusade. Game supplements: Once Around the Realms, FRC-2 Curse of the Azure Bonds, Heroes Lorebook, and of course Wiki.

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